Thursday, October 2, 2014

U14G Youth Soccer U14 Girls Youth Soccer NY, PA, NJ

U14 Girls soccer takes no prisoners--they are well trained and fiercely competitive. Looking for stars in the making? Look no further.This blog and its topic pages are informational designed to share opinions and ideas. It is not designed to anonymously attack individuals or make specific references to children, volunteers, coaches or other professionals.

1,115 comments:

GFA already has a win over SJEB. I know it's only one time but it was recent. Could possibly play Brick if both teams make the finals at NEWSS but have to get out of a tough bracket 1st. Just going to take it one game at a time.

If you look on Gotsoccer at the National rankings you will see that of the 25 top teams, 4 of them don't brake the 50% win level. And guess what? Three of them are from New Jersey.I know that some of you accept gotsoccer and some don't,some of you pick and choose when you want to accept the stats, like W D L, "we are #1 in the state" when clearly you are not,"we beat team X",and they beat you in the last tournament, leaving that out of your claim of beating this team and or that team. I would say that you are Revisionist Historians.

Got Soccer win % isn't even accurate for most teams if you just go back over their game listed you will see they don't add up to what they have listed. Got Soccer awards points to teams from tournament that other too teams don't even compete in but when you win these tournaments you move up to #1. Flawed system. Have the top 5 teams play each other a couple of times then go by those results not beating a team once do it a couple of time before you can claim you are better. Top 5 in no order:SJEBBrickPDAStallionsTake your pick from Copa, GFA, MF or STA.

Didn't Copa go because SJEB withdrew? They might be the most delusional parents on this blog next to Freehold. I also know of movement from there team as players are reaching out to a couple of top 5 teams after a bad season which shows you what they are all about. They bash teams that their best players are trying to go to so how is that for irony?

NJ State Champs & have beaten SJEB this season which puts them in the top 5 category. They have a much stronger case then Copa & GFA do. Hard to figure PDA because the last time they played a top NJ team was in their tournament in the Spring & they lost to SJEB. I would put them there with SJEB & Brick this season over all other NJ teams & PDA if you want to still count them as well which means top 4.

Most will be at NEWSS. The other half will state would-a should-a could-a all weekend long hyping chasing points while defending ECNL CLUBS use of these platforms are just warm ups or friendly games. I think it will be good weekend for soccer.

And the haters are going to hate. We know got soccer is not accurate and we are top 5 and could honestly compete for #1 given the chance its just gauge. Let's see which NJ team represents NJ the best when playing outside of NJ.

When it comes to region or national play NJ teams are really not very good.Many above average players spread about the state. They just talk a good game and impress themselves.And I don't think it is the kids doing the talking.

World Class vs GFA= 0-0 both teams played pretty well. The game was pretty even. Both teams had good chances and it was a interesting game to watch. Lets see tomorrow on who will go to the finals. Very good bracket

Only showcase for u17, with focus on seniors as they need to fill their class of 2015..coaches will "just start to get familiar" with u17 junior players (quote from college coaches). Chances of even looking at lower ages very slim. So go get those all important gs points.

That team has been getting short changed by the club and the coach for years and now they are getting the results to show for it. I can't believe those idiot parents put up with it. Talk about drinking the koolaid. smh

ECNL dominance? What about IGFA? Al haters here saying " they are going 1-2 out into the bank blah blah blah" they tie with WC won the other two games and didn't make it to the final only because stallions lost 6-0! Only way WC would make to the final was to score 6 goal in one game. It was unbelievable. 6-0 at this level , almost intentional. Good job IGFA and whoever says the contrary is just a stupid hater. Keep up with the good work.

Are you saying that Stallions tanked the game just to keep GFA from the final? That would be an all time low and, if true, the team should be banned from any tournaments in the future, coach should be fired, and as a parent I would pull my kid from the team.Don't know if it's true but previous posts certainly imply it.In any event, one mid-level ecnl team and one low level ecnl team in final. Good showing by GFA but in general NJ is VERY weak.

3rd place in their division. That's mid-level. Just a notch above low-level Splash. Didn't say gfa is weak, said they had a good showing. NJ is weak. Check the results. Don't be so sensitive, princess.

Can anyone explain how the hack WC went to the finals. According to the tournament rules (see the newss web site -last rule), only max 5 goals should be counted. So, WC did not have better goals differential. 6:0 should have been counted as 5:0 according the pre-defined rules? Please explain to me?

Not mentioning 2 regular goals that were called off by refs in the GFA last game against New Hyde Park (one directly from the corner)This stniks a little bit....

See the rule 18 at Newss web site to see that SOMEBODY "helped" WC to go to the finals. It is not fair for the GFA girls who won easily their games while WC won barely with New Hyde Park on a penalty kick. Another penalty was awarded to get to the magic 6:0 which should not have counted anyway.

NJ teams need to calm down. Your State Champions get embarrassed twice out of 3 games & GFA tied WC without their best player who showed up today & they dominated today. New Hyde Park the NY State Champs aren't a big win either as look at all the teams that have beat them this season. ECNL makes the finals. I will agree that your ECNL teams are probably not the best teams you have in NJ but they are still ECNL.

The point is that stallions lost 6-0 the only result that WC needed in order to make it to the final.One side penalty kick for WC and the other side two regular goals from GFA that the ref denied.One side a team like stallions that decided to give the game away without even trying to save face ( a total shameful performance) on the other side a team like New Hyde park that to the last minute they were fighting to avoid extra goals and desperately trying to score at least one goal. That is what happened. How many games in a top bracket you see ending with a 6-0? WC is a very good team but in my opinions IGFA played at the same level and overall deserve the final.ECNL and other stuff is not of my concern as I look at soccer

Chasing points means more than chasing a status ECNL...we work hard and train ..unlike other teams that chase for the sake of ranking some chase for the honest shot of showcasing. In the end it cost less and when done honestly the girls get the exposure. So continue to pay the ECNL price tag to end up with same results. It your girls got it they will find her whether with ECNL or Gotsoccer showcase points. Don't hate because your MIA left. It could have been a we thing.

7:03 your comment shows how ignorant you are about the tournament. Stallions parents any comment about the EMBARASSING weekend? Your coach usually comes out with strong stats and history, where is now? For sure he can add to his curriculum also a 6-0 in a top flight tournament. I am sure it is a record too. Or maybe something behind the result? Heard some parent leaving the field saying at least no other Nj team makes the final... Nice

IGFA stop your whining. Bottom line if you truly deserved to make it to the final you should have beat WC. Instead you put your fate in the hands of another team...and when the results didn't go your way you cut up a bunch of 13yr old girls. Truly classless and not hard to understand why your club is bashed often on this blog.

Funny how karma works. Igfa benefited from odd tourney rules vs freehold earlier this season and they were at the field telling our coach to stop complaining to the tournament. Now they want it both ways.

No parent complaining about tourny rules. The issue is that many parents are upset. We know the rules. And it sucks. The are other underlying variables that lead to those outcomes . Those variables are not placing blame on refs, tournment rules or brackets. Factors that lead to winning and not making the finals comes from lack of experience. When inexperienced at playing high level,coaching high level and parenting at high level, emotions can get the best of all invovlved. In time with experince at these high level tournaments the group, if they stay together, will bemefit most whem it counts. Experience is a critical component and often overlooked. However as a unit we will continue to fail forward, progress and learn from all of our mistakes. The team will loose players and gain some new girls. With every loss their is a gain. What one decide to make of it depends on the will to win.Yet they will continue to develop and improve. So while many of us chace or become tempted to chase ECNL club he remember who really cashes in on your MIA mind set. Most of our girls will grow and earn their respect on the playing field while other rely on dady's pay to play status to say hay look at me I'm ECNL and still not the next MIA.

7:58 please give us details because that is far from any truth. Nobody is whining girls did a good job and we are all happy. We just go back to work like we would have done if we were at the final. Congratulations to WC a solid good team. It was a good game the one we play last night. Now I am waiting for your freehold case 7:58

GFA played freehold once in a tournament and never were involved in any other competition together. They played them few weeks ago and won 3-1 we won the group without any rules to be checked so I do not know why you are referring me freehold parent 7:58.

8:38 you are a troll like many others in here. Not a GFA parent. Please stop. Brick is top team and proved over the years. Also mr troll do not mention names because they are young girls and you should stop right now with trying to provoke some reaction or additional bashing.

No parents bickering about rules. NJ has some solid teams to compete in the region. Spring and Jeff Cup willxbe here soon. Let's see who will play in the top bracket. I know who will not? And let's go back to our early season projections to see which teams progressed, regressed or stayed floundering I'm stagnant nation. Lets see which team player better over their last 20 games and look at the quality of those games too.

8:38 Yes you have some very good points..however 8:45 is right. Dont do names and also dont be mean about it...maybe Brick didnt have their day. However, yes GFA is a good team and deserve it. And some things today were weird. But what you gonna do about it

WC is better then NJ teams. They beat Brick @ Stars if MASS, beat your State Champs badly & beat your top Club PDA by 3 goals this season in ECNL play so don't get hung up on a tie when you didn't play the full team & act like you are just as good. Shows the inexperience if you think a tie tells the story of who is better or that a tie means you are just as good. Play WC 10x and if you win 1 game if be shocked! GFA beat the NJ State Champs which are not good & New Hyde Park so I guess for that team that means something? Let's see how long you last in the top flights in the next couple of seasons. NJ teams spend too much time chasing points and bashing each other to see the big picture, not all NJ teams but most.

Nobody here is banging there cheat saying that GFA is better than WC. They played and tied. It was a great game that could of went either way. GFA enters tournaments hoping to get in the top flights so they can test themselves. They are a newer team and have to prove themselves just as all of these other teams had to do at one point. To say theyvayrt chasing points is a joke. You tell me.. How else are they supposed to play in high level tournaments, in the top brackets if they don't accumulate points? IS GFA the best team out there? No, but they are a dam good team and nobody can say differently. They will keep working and playing and no matter what they do or who they beat there will always be GFA haters. Oh well!

Top NJ teams based on reputation, results & history are:SJEBBrickPDABased in results from this season you would put GFA as the next team with MF.Stallions won the States but lost to Brick & GFA as did Copa so they are outside the top 5 for now & you cannot put Freehold anywhere near the top 5.NJ top 10:SJEBBrickPDAGFAMFStallionsRealCopaNJ CrushNJ Rush or Freehold

Wow a top 10 NJ list. Again. What's the point of this list. How about the top ten coaches talk to each other and make an NJ allstar showcase team for U15 out of their top girls. O wait thats ODP . Or is that TIPS. No it must be the ECNL teams. Clearly its none of these as good players are scatter across teams forcing the coaches to fill out thier rosters with who they can get.

If you go with that premise then NJ teams without the best players playing together still can compete with other States that I guess you're saying gets all the best kids to one team then NJ coaching & training must be very good to take these players that are not very good to compete with the best from other States. NJ does have it's talent spread out as they haven't bought into the ECNL nonsense & when these teams cannot beat these teams why would they leave their current teams just to pay more money & be on a roster of 24-30?

I don't knw, i feel lost on this Blog. i am more concerned with my daughter and how she is doing in any game than whether or not our team lost to a team by a goal. Nice to have a win but if my daughters not a significant contributor then it is all for nothing.

makes all this best team stuff just silly.-because it ends in a whisper at the end of u18 .

My only concern is if my daughter wants to play college soccer, is she being given the chance to develop so that she will be good enough to play.

Let the coach worry about the team and their rankings.

Why are you parents worried so much about the team?- when some of your kids may be coming off the bench.

The troll posting top ten is a jerk. But dialogue about development is key. Some girls develop with peaks and plateaus. Some girls grown incrementally and others no matter how much effort will not be able to match the level of play that is needed to play in top brackets. When the competition is tough individual weakness are noticeable then its back to training to tweak and strengthen the errors of the game. If the adjustment can't be made within a certain time frame then its time to reevaluate the player and adjust the training or the pick a platform that is right for the player. Rec travel..etc...if the player has not made it to the top brackets by now its over and there is a slim chance that the player will make it to compete at the highest level in a showcase.

How is an under 500 season good? Brick and sjeb can beat most teams in NJ ...PDA does not even compete so how is putting a team in top three based on reputation even a factor? Yankees have a great reputation bit are they the best team because flof their history? Your variable need to include W-D-L goals for and against then you factor in other constructs like schedule etc...

My daughter played for a team that played both World Class and GFA this weekend at NEWSS and since I have no dog in the fight I can give you my take on both teams. World Class is a very solid team that is good 1 through 18. No noticeable drop off but nothing that makes you say WOW either. The GFA starting 11 was leaps and bounds better than the World Class starting 11. GFA also has some quality on the bench as well...but 15 through 18 is where they lack. Both teams have great keepers. GFA keeper (top notch) was the better of the two..but WC keeper was great too. Both teams are very good and were the class of the tournament. Both teams have a bright future.

WC has a player that is on the National team & GFA does not have a player close to that level. GFA is a nice team but let's not compare them to a proven Club after 1 game where WC was not at full strength. If GFA was on the other side of bracket I don't think they would have won 2 games. Stallions & New Hyde Park are not top flight teams.

Hey 3:35 PM - One girl does not make a team. If she does mean that much...that does not say much about the other girls on the World Class team. Which I think is a bit unfair...but would prove my point...no?? GFA starting 11 is better than World Class in my opinion. The HBC team has a national team player that guested for New Hyde Park this weekend. How did that work out?? Point proven again!!!

4:39...LOL!! That is all you can come up with??? My kid played against GFA you clown...not for GFA!! You truly do represent what is wrong with this blog and youth soccer. Put the mouse down and go outside and play. You probably need the exercise.

Hey slick simply because your not going to Florida does not mean its not worth while. Why worry about what GFA is doing and worry about how MF will never be as good ...or better yet why don't you stop knocking the entities you abandoned its all about exposure. So why nj ecnl parents keep inhaling that koolaid non ecnl nj teams keep creating opportunities. See you in the spring. If MF lets you play.

So either your daughter played for the Stallions who got destroyed or New Hyde Park who needed to bring in a ringer to keep the game close so hard to take our opinion seriously. GFA was the 2nd best team in a weak bracket.

You must be really clueless if you think the WC, GFA, New Hyde Park...was a weaker bracket. Anyone who saw the level of soccer played in these two brackets would instantly recognize which one was it. I think you just did not see it because you were already driving home nicely packed.

The weaker teams were figuring out how to poach players and buy into ecnl all weekend along. It won't happen. If nj players decide to go ecnl they should head to WC, BUCKS OR FUSION other than that why play with along MOsa standout in matchfit or splash

4:39 maybe your asshole smells but again seems you are an expert so you say most of them smells I am sure you know better. Keep your bitterness and your smelly asshole to yourself. There are lots of trolls here. One week is COPA then freehold then brick now GFA. Maybe you are upset because the troll is not talking about your team so why you take your nose off some ass and start one .

3:07 Nice critiquing from a GFA parent pretending to be an impartial parent from an opposing team. First 11 for GFA are great but 15 through 18 suck. Way to throw half your team under the bus. "GFA goalie top notch",... would that happen to be your daughter?

CHICAGO (May 27, 2014) – U.S. Under-14 Girls’ National Team head coach April Kater has called up 48 players for the first U.S. U-14 Girls’ National Team training camp of the year. It will be the first National Team experience for this group of players, all of whom were born in 2000 or 2001. The event will run from June 1-8 in Portland, Oregon. The U-14 GNT is scheduled for two more training camps this August and November, which should both feature 36 players.

I'm not a GFA parent...I'm not even from NJ you idiot. We played you earlier this year and I noticed the goalie was new and you had a couple of other girls you did not have last time we played you this fall. Guest players maybe? Just my opinion that your bench is your weakness. Since you know I'm not your goalies parent...you would not happen to be a parent of player 15 thru 18? Would you?? LOL!!

Yeah sure, and you're not a insecure parent trying to live vicariously through your little princess. You make a lot of funny assumptions. I'm not part of any team or have a kid that's part of any team. I just like to be entertained by the comments made by parents with the inferiority complex like you. you want to do something constructive? Then put down the cupcakes and jump on a treadmill and stop trying to project own dreams on your kid.

all this time, I finally had to google what MOSA soccer was. You South jersey people need a life...your own, not living through your daughters. I have a Senior in HS and stuff she did at U14 fell off her soccer resume long ago. develop now, showcase later.

I cannot eat remember seeing a top flight team get beat 3-0 & 6-0 in a tournament before which shows you they shouldn't have been there. New Hyde has also lost big in top flights before which shows you being a State Champion doesn't mean you are a top team. One side if the bracket was competitive & the other side of NEWSS was not with 2 games 3-0 & 1 game 6-0. Be interesting to see where these teams go from here. Winning a State Championship & getting all those points to get moved up to top flights will be there undoing like other teams before them that didn't belong. GFA played a right game with WC score wise but wonder how they would have done on the other side of the bracket? Time will tell about that team too. Enjoy the offseason & we'll see how things finish up in the Spring.

I think most of you people are insane. There are very few people on this blog that actually make any sense. I will go on this once in a blue moon to get a good laugh and never post anything, until now. I am a GFA parent. I think we are a very good team and are getting better every day. We work extremely hard and do the best we can every time we step onto the field. Sometimes it's great and sometimes it's not. Such is life.. That's why we continue to work. We are not the best team out there but for some of you to say that we're not good is pretty pathetic. WC is a great team and our game against them was great. Both teams played well. You can all tbink what you want about us, our future, who we beat who we lost to, where we will be in the next year or so etc. None of that matters to us and it shouldn't matter to you. We will continue to work hard and get better. The proof is in the results! Redults don't lie..

Kind of expected the NHP outcome but was kind of shocked to see the stallions results. We played them in the top bracket of wags which is arguably stronger then their newws bracket and although they didn't come out on top they gave us and the eventual champs a run for our money. Looking at their history on gotsoccer they don't normally give up many goals with the exception of the 2 WC games...they seem to have their number. Maybe some extenuating circumstances contributed to their poor weekend. Many injuries? Any stallions parent care to shed some light?

Okay ECNL dominated awards in college but does that mean that your MiA will follow to be the next dominant player to earn the award? Possibly yes...probably no. The key is to find a way to get into a college that has a major of interest. What will these awards bring...a cure for cancer, a Nobel peace prize, world renowned recognition? Propaganda is sketchy? If the schools mentioned recruit from an ecnl base then it is likely that ecnl players will earn the award? Is that the case for all conferences? Probably different from region to region. So check your sources, and authors purpose then infer.

Stallions won a state cup that was the weakest of all times . Either than that they didn't do anything this season. The best move was to get the Americans points from previous year so they could play top flights .

Ok so TSF and Nj rush are the best out there. Ok all good so stallions this past weekend played 3 games got 10 goal against and score only one goal. Got an incredibly EMBARASSING 6-0 and got killed by two out of three teams BUT is a top notch team ok?

Realize that this info about total awards domination comes directly from the ECNL web site. Would like to see the info about how many awards were presented in total and what percentages went to ECNL vs. other leagues. WOuld like to understand how the sward winner are chosen.

ECNL is an idea. A format in which the most recognizable and historically successful academies (not individual teams) could showcase there players. There attraction isn't better coaching or better techniques, but the idea that your daughters could play in the "major leagues" of girls organized soccer. Because of this, parents send their daughters in flocks to try out for these teams. in turn, giving these teams a larger pool of players to select from. It also creates "some" bloated egos from the coaches, the parents, and the players. It's like belonging to an exclusive country club. You'll find some good golfers and some bad ones. In conclusion, ECNL is part propaganda, part hope, and all business.

I might be wrong but I'm going to assume that you're an ECNL parent. The problem with these exclusive leagues is that they exclude. The majority of kids won't be able to compete in them. Not because of lack of talent but perhaps because lack of funds or location of the ECNL club. We always look to try and organize things better, even when those things can't possibly be organized. These are not professional players were talking about. They're just kids. Teams don't pay for them to play or pay for their travel expenses. I personally would like to see more regions than the standard 5. Maybe just 4 or 5 states in each region. Teams from those states can play each other all year with a big tournament at the end, that each state could could take turns hosting. I'm not unrealistic. I know this could never happen because a lot of people and tournaments would lose a lot of money, and none of these people would ever slaughter their cash cow on purpose.

Ecnl is for the haves that systemically exclude the have nots for the simple reason of not wanting their Mia loosing their spot to a more able Mia who can't afford to take her spot. It would be interesting to collect data on the demographics of ECNL players I bet the income is 100k or better...without a doubt exclusionary.

ECNL is another league to get players to where ever their next soccer destination is...maybe college. I dont know why everyone talks like the end all be all is D1 or better yet the national team. There is plenty of good quality soccer destinations besides those two. Here's a couple of questions for you.Can you get a job with "firm XYZ" if you went to a state university via jr college first? Of course. You work hard, keep your eye on your goal and be ambi you can. Can you get to the same job with XYZ if you went to a IVY league school? Of course, maybe things will be easier (maybe not), maybe networking will be easier(maybe not), maybe your future boss will be impressed with the name on your diploma, Ivy school will be more exclusionary due to price and location, but should we water down the Ivy's or add schools to the ivy's so its more fair and even? Probably not. Not everything is fair, nor does it have to be. All leagues are not equal, all leagues are not the same price, all leagues do not have to be by your home, and not all leagues play will have similarly talented girls. Just because they are not does not mean its just a money grab or a sham or hoax. It's just not for you, that's fine. If you want everything to be equal, lets all play rec, everyone plays all positions at some point in the game and we can get our participation medal after every game. Sound good?

Good arguement however when you talk about IVY all kids have equal acess. School, books etc...equal playing field. Ecnl is not providing equal playing field. They exclude. Schools reach into every area of a neighborhood to provide an equal chance. So your comparison does nor fit. Sounds ligit but it not equal which acceptable for ECNL because they could care less about children as a whole. The repsonsiblity lies with the ECNL umbrella but they won't waste there time reaching into underprivileged communities because they can't make money that's the bottom line. It is a league for the haves not the able and willing. Its unfortunate thatbyou believe that the unequal is okay but that is usually the mentality of the privileged. Selfish.

@5:25 Ivy's give all kids equal access? Are you insane? Is there anything more exclusionary that IVY leagues? Harvard tuition 58K, Rutgers 28K...how is that equal. Why is up to ECNL to make things equal, because yes in the end they are a business, so are Universities last I checked. Not only do I think its OK that things are not equal, I think that is the reality, until people like you cry that things aren't fair. How is ECNL unfair? You try out, your good enough you make it. Just like school. If its too expensive deal with the debt, just like school. Do your kid a favor and explain to her that she may not go out with the cute football QB, she might not score in every game, she might not make every team she trys out for, she might not have the nicest car or biggest house. Life is not fair. Im a realist, not selfish. If you disagree, take your participation trophy and go home.

It is because of people like you selfish in mind heart and soul that leads others into thinking that having inequalities is part of life and dealing with is a natural struggle. However no matter how you slice if you don't have means for school you still have access through hard work and student loans. With ECNL you don't have an equitable playing field even if your good enough to play. So once again take a look at the demographics in ECNL its not equitable and no its not okay. You put that same program with in reach of a community where people who have the skill and access through a sliding scale tuition your Mia will not be not be on the field. So by design ECNL clubs establish themselves as far as possible to protect their upper crust oligarchs from the better athletes. So all of the silver spoons can be grouped together not by ability but by income. Hence why your u14 program is in the toilet. All money and some skill.the real talent has yet to be tapped and in jersey it will never happen because people like you feel that unfair is equal Mr. Fergussan.

Fees are not similar that's hearsay. The list of NPL-Nonecnl clubs just listed are not equitable too. The same concept of rigorous training can be applied as nonprofit but greed trumps the idea of providing a similar product at a fair rate that is feasible for all. The same energy that is geared to generate a successful program at the ecnl, npl etc...levels can be applied to all but then it provides access to athletes that are systemically excluded. Take the silver spoon out of your pocket and your less then average ecnl player would not have chance. Many academies promise the world but never share an honest opinion that a players just wont cut it."oh yes with training and additional training and camps she will go from jags, EDP,npl, ecnl and will land a chance to compete blah blah..20 grand and 6 years later no progress, scholarship, not even a thank you for lining their pockets.

Play for a team your family can afford. You are not jeopardizing your child's future if you cannot provide her with high level soccer. It is not education or health care.

High level expensive youth sports are a luxury product. It is a very nice activity if you can afford to indulge but is hardly a necessity. Do not get wrapped up in the unfortunate attitude of superiority that accompanies some of of this youth sports insanity. Just find a good spot for your girl and move on.

Not the previous poster, but I believe the he/she was continuing to make the IVY school analogy. Even if something seems out of reach, wether its a school or a soccer club, if you want it bad enough there are ways to work for your goals, besides just saying its unfair change it.I think playing at a high level, players and parents have to understand there will be sacrifices; travel, social , money spent, vacations.I think seeming to think that everything should be equal is just not realistic. Btw, one of the main reasons there are no ECNL teams in urban areas is they demand that clubs own their own fields. I know in my area fields are booked from early morning till well after dark, to have my club join ECNL and have them occupy the fields for a whole day or weekend is not feasible...and bad business for our town.

I would say making an ivy league education analogous to participation in a particular youth soccer club or league equally irresponsible. Even if the soccer product is high quality that is a silly comparison. The education can provide a student with an expertise from which she can earn a living.

the comparison with Ivy started because a previuous poster called it elitest and exclusionary. Similar to how people percieve Ivy's, obviously not to what can be gained from it in the end.I just dont know how ECNL is excludes, open try outs are just that, open to all. If you are good enough for the coach and your Mia fits his team's needs you will be offered a spot. i dont think the coach is making decisions on where you live or how much you make. If it's location is inconvienient for you and you want something closer...that's pretty much the definition of selfish.

Life is not about what you gain or how you live its about the imprint that is left once you move on. Realism as someone posted earlier is what we as society make of it. So why not give back where it matters most to those in need. Exclusionary clubs are profit driven a luxury is right its crazy how society accepts the despairity that exist among children.

OK..I agree that both Ivy league (and many other elite educational institutions) and ECNL are elitist and exclusionary.

IMO, the ivy league (or any other top notch university) game, as rigged as it is, would be worth making significant sacrifices to try to play. The quality of the education if you take advantage of it, could lead to real future economic gain.

As far as the ECNL, it is exclusionary by income but it is just a youth program so, oh well. There is no significant life advantage to participating in ECNL over a lower cost option. You may get a better soccer education, better competition, maybe better connection to college programs if you are interested...worthy of minor, not major, sacrifice to play.

Wow a soccer blog with social commentary. Look were not talking about a kid of upper class globe trotting to games(however that is measured these days) and someone on the poverty line who is a natural talend only if given the chance. Assuming all the previous posters are playing more that rec soccer (because no rec soccer parent is on a U14 soccer blog). Were talking about the difference in your elite travel league and my elite travel league.

My "elite" travel team costs $1150 per kid per year (fall, winter spring) including ALL costs (even tacked on the $50 in raffle tickets). Not insignificant and out of reach for many families of course but much more affordable than and ECNL type team.

News flash: there are no super studs out there playing school-ball only who are "deprived" of the elite soccer experience and who are waiting in the wings for a sugar daddy to fund them into the ECNL where, with their amazing skills developed on the playground, they will usurp your child. Might be true within the recent immigrant population, where there may be a soccer culture among males, but girls are not included in that group's soccer culture.

Coaches are paid for practices and games but fields are not owned by club. My 3 kids are having a great time with this great sport. They are not weak players..2 are strong, one ok. 2 also play summer select team for another $400 each

I am sure the high level clubs have beautiful facilities, nice uniforms, quality instruction, competitive tournaments, etc, etc. I don't begrudge it to any kid.

But IMO, I don't see the wisdom of a sacrifice for youth sports over other important priorities. Especially with multiple kids playing.

I think my post was taken out of context because it started a debate about social injustice. My point was that ECNL is not a better brand of soccer or the major league of youth soccer. Because your daughter belongs to an ECNL team doesn't mean that she's the best of the best, getting the best of the best coaching, with the best of the best facilities. In fact, there's a couple of girls on these teams that get a break on team fees. maybe they get to play for half the price or maybe in some occasions they play for free, depending on how good the coaches in the organization think they are. That bit of information might bother a couple of parents are paying full price, but it's just a part of reality in this type of system. Naturally every parent wants the best for their child. My point is that perhaps looking at the "elite" league format closer and understanding that they're not going to get your child into college scholarship any faster then other leagues that just can't get into that exclusive ECNL club.

I didn't say there are no better players outside of the league, although when it comes to my child that is a truth :),I said there is no kid currently either not on a team at all or in ymca/ rec type free programs who is better. I believe that because she hasn't gotten the training or played hours on the playground with older better players who are mostly boys. Further, I do not think there are many, if any, players who aren't playing at least in the top 2 flights of major tournaments who are poised ready to break into the ECNL. Haven't played with and against enough competition to develop into ECNL players. Because I doubt the reading comprehension abilities of many in this readership I will say this another way: If your child is one of the top players on a team who is usually seeded in the top 2 flights of at least regional level (newss, pda, jeff cup, spirit, fc delco etc) tournaments she probably could break into an ECNL team at this time, especially in NJ.

I won't say there aren't any, but extremely rare for a girl to kick a ball around a playground or on a rec team for years and be able to step into ECNL at this age or any other high level league for that matter.

I'm glad we are talking about issues outside of chest pumping. How about the possibility of champions from leagues throughout mosa, northern counties, cjysa, mnjsya EDP, npl play a championship round robin tournament not for points but to assess how each league is progressing?

question - on academy teams, or teams where coach is paid, do you give a large team gift or any team gift for that matter? just moved my daughter to an academy level team, and was unsure what was appropriate. or does a card suffice?

9 22 you can t be serious. You must of meant , track to soccer, like someone mentioned earlier.Track & field, pure athleticism for most events. The cross over to the 400 is easy for many elite soccer players.

National Championship? ECNL, NPL, USYS, US Club & Supet Y all have them but don't include all teams so it's just a title which means nothing unless you have gone through your State, then Region then to face winners from other a Regions can you claim you are playing for a National Championship so relax.

San Diego Surf are the National Champions having win their State Championship, Region & Nationals. Look it up as you will see you don't play teams like them & won't see them in Florida playing the very antiquated Super Y which hadn't been relevant in years just another money grab. MAPS Challenge & Super Y? Team needs some real guidance.

Long Island rough riders and Valkyries got to represent region 1 in Tampa fla in super y these teams are from tri state area . They have played very well in Tampa against many girls that play ecnl . I wish Valkyries good luck i wish we were playing you in the finals the Orlando city game was a tough game for us . Long Island good job girls we are proud of you all .

Do you sick bastards realize you are talking about 13 & 14 year old girls?? I mean get a life already!! The girls from all the teams you speak about on a regular basis play the game for one reason...the love of the game. They are all good players and should be applauded for the hard work and dedication they put into the game. I do not care if you are playing ECNL, NPL, EDP or JAGS!! Support the kids...they deserve it!!

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